Noiseless clock mechanism



1,616,465 Feb. 8, l927- E. s. os'rLr-:R

NoIsELEss cLocK MEcHANIsM Filed May 11'. 1925 l l 'lul/Jillian Patented Feb. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES ERNEST S. OSTLEB,

OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO STROMBERG ELECTRIC COM- PANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

NOISELESS CLOCK MECHANISM.

Application filed May 11, 1925. Serial No. 29,315.

My invention relates to noiseless clock mechanism.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient noiseless clock mechanism controlled by an intermittently energized electromagnet.

Further objects will appear from the description and claims.

In the drawings, in `which an embodiment of my invention is shown- Figure 1 is a rear View of a noiseless intermittent movement mechanism which may be used in a secondary clock;

Fig. 2 is a view from the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; and

Fig.

4 is a section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

eferring to thedrawings in detail, the construction shown comprises an intermittently energizable electromagnet 1, a four point revoluble armature 2 therefor, a shaft 3 on which the armature 2 is mounted, another four point armature 4 mounted on the same shaft as the first armature, and a ermanent magnet 5,the poles 6 of which are ocated on oppositel sides of the armature 4.

A clock train is driven from the shaft on which the armatures are mounted which may be of any uitable construction and as shown comprise a worm 7 on the shaft 3, a. worm gear 8 meshing with the worm 7, a shaft 9 on which the Worm gear 8 is mounted, a pinion 10 mounted' on the shaft 9, a gear 11 meshing with the pinion 10 a pinion 12 rotatable with the gear 11, and a gear 13 meshing with the pinion 12. The minute hand may be mounted on the shaft 9 and the hour hand may be mounted on the sleeve 14 rotatable with thel gear 13.

The step by step mechanism and the clock train may be mounted in any suitable manner on the front supporting plate 15. The shaft 3 on which the armatures 2 and 4 and worm 7 are secured is mounted on a U-shaped bearing bracket 16 suitably supported from the front plate 15. The shaft 9 on which the pinion 10 is secured is mounted in bearing openings in the bracket 16 and front plate 15. The permanent magnet 5 is secured on the bracket 16 vby means of the clamping plate 17.

.The core ot' the elect-romagnet is made up ot, laminated plates, the poles 18 being locate-d on opposite sides of the rcvoluble .1

armature 2, the plates 'being made ot' varying length, to form. a stepped formation to provide a sort of taper for the poles 18, to provide a concentra-'tion of the magnetic lines of force at the ends of the poles.

In operation, the electromagnet 1 is periodically energized and deenergized, usualhv once per minute. When the eleetromagnet is energized it moves the-revoluble armature 2 from the position in full lines in Fig. 4 to the position shown in dotted lines, this movement being a little more than a 45 movement and causing the armature for the permanent magnet also to be moved a little more than 45 to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. When the electromagnet is deenergized the permanent magnet causes the'step movement of 90 to be completed. The next energization of the electroma et again moves the rotatable armatures t ough a little more than 45 in the same direction as in the preceding step, so that each cycle of operation, including the energization and deenergization of the electromagnet causes the rotatable armatures to be rotated ,This step by step movement of the armatures in the same direction causes the step by step movement of the clock train and clock hands. i

In practice I find that there is a slight overthrow of the rotatable armatures when acted on by the electromagnets. That is to say, the armature, when acted on by the electromagnet, will move slightly past the position which it finally assumes, due to its momentum. This results in a slight reverse movement of the worm 7, causing a slight noise caused b the engagement and disenagement of the threads on th worm with the teeth of the worm gear 8. v In order to reduce this noise as much as possible, I make one or the' other of the members of the worm gearing (preferably the Worm gear 8) of fibrous material, such 'as fiber impregnated with bakelitc.

In the claims-the term non-reversing used in describing the electromagnetmeans that in the operation of the electromagnet the current through its coils is not reversed.

(ill

While I have described the movement in connection with a secondary clock it is obvious that this use is not confined to secondary clocks.

I claim 1. A step by step movement mechanism comprising. an intermittently energizable non-reversing electromagnet, a revoluble armature therefor, rot-ated a partial 'step when said magnet is energized, and means for completing the step when said magnet is deenergized, comprising a permanent magnet.

2. Ast-ep by step movement mechanism comprising an intermittently energizable stationaryelectromagnet, a revoluble armature therefor', rotated a partial step when said magnet is energized, and means for completing the step when said magnet is deenergized, comprising a permanent magnet.

3. A step by step movement. mechanism comprising an intermittently energizable stationary non-reversing electromagnet, a revoluble armature therefor, rotated a par tial step when said magnet is energized, and means for completing the step when said magnetis deenergized, comprising a permanent magnet.

4. A step by step movement mechanism comprising an intermittently energizable electromagnet, a revoluble armature therefor rotated a partial step when said magnet is energized, and means for completing the step when said magnet is vdeenergized comprising a second revoluble armature and a permanent magnet therefor.

A step by step movement mechanism comprising an intermittently energizahle electromagnet, a revoluble armature therefor rotated a partial step when said magnet is energized, and means for completing the step when said magnet is deenergized comprising a second revoluble armature and a permanent magnet therefor, said permanent magnet having its poles on opposite` sides of its armature.

In Witness whereof, 'I have hereunto subscribed my name.

ERNEST S. OSTLER. 

